Prices and discounts

23 items in total: 13 are valid now (4 of them "Recommended"), sorted by the day they are useful, each saying when and where to buy; the 10 that are not worth it or no longer valid are collected at the end of the page. "You save" is a rough estimate for this trip, with the calculation shown; before buying, go by the official site. Each sight's own ticket prices are on its card ("Admission adult | student"). For the tickets to buy or book and the reservation slots, see Tickets and reservations.

Jump to: 10-25 Sun (2), 10-27 Tue (5), 10-28 Wed (4), 10-29 Thu (1), 10-31 Sat (1), Not worth it (10)

10-25 Sun Budapest day 1 · Landing, bouldering, night cruise

Budapest BKK single ticket, 24 h and 72 h tickets

RecommendedTransit pass4 people

When and where to buy: On 10-25, before taking the 200E at the airport, buy with BudapestGO and validate the first ticket; 10-24 update: from the afternoon of 10-26 it is mostly walking and only 1 ride on the M2 in the evening, so don't buy the second 24-hour ticket; buy a single ticket (500 Ft) instead; the actual daily spending is under "Transport costs for this day" on the day page (also for 10-26)

BKK official prices: single 500 Ft (≈€1.28, bought in advance; 700 Ft on board), 30-minute ticket 600 Ft, 90-minute ticket 850 Ft, 24-hour 2,750 Ft (≈€7.05), 72-hour 5,750 Ft (≈€14.74). A single ticket doesn't allow transfers; 24- and 72-hour tickets count from the time you validate them.

You save: Number of rides estimated from the day pages: me about 9 on 10-25 (airport 200E+95, 28/168E/10 near the venue, venue→Parliament 10E+M2, 2 on the way back in the evening), about 10 on 10-26, about 2 on the morning of 10-27 to Keleti, about 21 in total. Buy 2 24-hour tickets (validate one at the airport on 10-25, the other in the early afternoon of 10-26) = 5,500 Ft, versus 21×500=10,500 Ft for singles, saving about 5,000 Ft≈€13. The three companions (arrival time at the venue unknown, counted from the evening of 10-25) about 17 rides: 1 24-hour ticket + about 5 singles = 2,750+2,500=5,250 Ft, versus 8,500 Ft for singles, saving about 3,250 Ft≈€8 each. For all 4 together about 14,750 Ft≈€38. Rule: if you ride ≥6 times in a 24-hour window (2,750÷500=5.5), buy the 24-hour ticket. The 72-hour ticket (5,750 Ft) costs more than 2 24-hour tickets (5,500 Ft), so don't buy it.
Why: On 10-26 there are around ten rides in one day, so a 24-hour ticket is clearly better than singles; the 72-hour ticket is surplus.
Cost: 24 h 2,750 Ft (≈€7.05) per person
How to buy: Buy in the BudapestGO app, or at a station ticket machine or customer service center; paper tickets must be validated yourself before boarding; you can also buy a single on board with a bank card (Budapest Pay&GO).
Where it helps: HUNGEXPO Convention Centre (venue of a friend's meeting), Fisherman's Bastion, Central Market Hall, Gravity bouldering gym
Links: Official site or purchase page ↗ · Link 2 ↗

Source: official site bkk.hu/en/tickets-and-passes/prices/ (I read the page directly, not a third party). The number of rides is my estimate from trip/days/10-25.md and 10-26.md. · Checked 2026-10-22

ISIC international student card (digital card)

Have itID4 people

When and where to buy: Already have it, no need to buy; keep the digital card on your phone and save a screenshot as backup. Show it on the spot at the 10-25 night cruise check-in, on 10-26 at Fisherman's Bastion, Matthias Church and Gravity, on 10-27 at Belvedere, and on 10-31 at Schönbrunn (also for 10-26, 10-27, 10-31)

The digital card the 4 of us already got; show it at the sight's ticket office to get the student price. Known so far to accept ISIC: the Danube night cruise (paid, check-in needs ISIC), Schönbrunn (the place database says ISIC is required), Vienna Airport CAT (the official site accepts a student ID).

You save: Budapest (rechecked on the official sites 10-22, prices unchanged): Fisherman's Bastion upper level 1,700→850 Ft (half price), 4 people save 3,400 Ft; Matthias Church 3,400→2,700 Ft, 4 people save 2,800 Ft; Synagogue 14,500→12,000 Ft (official site only mentions ISIC), 4 people save 10,000 Ft (if we go); SPOT bouldering after 15:00 2,900→2,300 Ft, 4 people save 2,400 Ft; MAG47 3,100→2,600 Ft, me alone saves 500 Ft; Parliament for non-EEA students 14,000→7,000 Ft (age limit 24, if tickets can be had); St. Stephen's Basilica combined ticket 6,800→5,500 Ft (official site says ISIC accepted, if we go). Without the synagogue, Parliament and basilica: about 9,100 Ft≈€23; with the synagogue about 19,100 Ft≈€49. The discounts at the Hungarian National Museum, the art museums and the House of Terror are for EEA citizens only; ISIC is not valid there. Vienna: the student prices (under 26) at Belvedere, Albertina and the Secession don't mention ISIC on their official sites, so bring the student ID plus passport; the Schönbrunn and Hofburg sites clearly say ISIC is required.
Why: Already got it, free to use; but it is almost useless for transport: the BKK student monthly pass needs proof of a Hungarian address, and the 24-hour and 72-hour tickets have no student price; the ÖBB and Wiener Linien sites have no student price for tourists (only the Jahreskarte Jugend annual pass at €294 and the Vorteilscard); only the CAT airport train and some sights accept it.
Cost: Free (already have it)
How to buy: Open the digital card on your phone; some ticket offices in Hungary require the "original", and the BKK rules say photos and photocopies don't count; the official site doesn't say whether a digital card is accepted.
Where it helps: Fisherman's Bastion, Matthias Church, Synagogue (Dohány Street Synagogue), Gravity bouldering gym, MAG47 climbing gym (bouldering), Danube night cruise (booked and paid), Schönbrunn Palace, Upper Belvedere (Klimt's The Kiss)
Links: Official site or purchase page ↗ · Link 2 ↗ · Link 3 ↗ · Link 4 ↗ · Link 5 ↗

Source: the isic.hu home page only lists partners such as Nomago and Flixbus and doesn't name BKK, MÁV or museums; the isic.at home page lists FlixBus 10% and doesn't name ÖBB, Wiener Linien or museums; isic.org/discounts loads through an app, so the list can't be read (all of these are official sites). For the BKK rules see the bkk.hu discounts page. For prices see the prices on the place cards (rechecked on the official sites). · Checked 2026-10-22

10-27 Tue Vienna → Bad Ischl · Belvedere, nearby churches, Naschmarkt; leave at 17:57 (originally 16:57)

Salzkammergut Card (SommerCard, guest card for Bad Ischl accommodation)

RecommendedDiscount4 people

When and where to buy: On 10-27 at check-in, ask the host for the guest registration (Gästekarte); from 10-28, pick up the card at the Bad Ischl tourist information (Trinkhalle), free (also for 10-28, 10-29, 10-30)

Official site: free if you stay 3 nights in Bad Ischl (€4.90/person for fewer than 3 nights); €3.90/person (3 nights) in the Wolfgangsee, Fuschlsee and Ausseerland areas; valid 2026-05-01 to 10-31, pick it up where you stay; at the Bad Ischl tourist information (Trinkhalle) show the Bad Ischl guest card (Gästekarte) or a tourist card to get it. Up to 25% discount on sights, more than 120 partners. Children under 15 don't need their own card. The official page doesn't mention public transport included with this card; the free bus page I found is the winter ski bus, for guest-card holders, not this Card.

You save: Related prices in the 2026 brochure (official PDF) (adult → with card): Katrin cable car return €28→€26, single €21→€20; Gosaukamm Zwieselalm cable car return €26→€23.90; Hallstatt Salt Mine incl. cable car €49→€44; Dachstein All in One €67.90→€62.50; Schafbergbahn return €61→€58.20; Wolfgangsee all-lake boat ticket €31→€29.40; Kaiservilla guided tour €24→€21.50, park only €6.70→€5.90; EurothermenResort 10% for 4 hours; Altaussee boat 1 hour €21→€18, about 25 min €13→€11; for online salt mine bookings use the code SKGTCard (once per person). The Zwölferhorn cable car and K³ climbing gym are not in the brochure; for the Wolfgangsee boat the brochure only lists the all-lake ticket, with no discount mentioned for singles. No discount on buses or OÖVV: the brochure has no public transport items, and the "KlimaTicket OÖ / Vorteilscard" checkbox on the OÖVV app registration page has nothing to do with this card (checked 10-28). If the 4 of us bought the Wolfgangsee all-lake ticket this time: €1.60×4=€6.40, Katrin return €2×4=€8, salt mine €5×4=€20, about €34 at most; you only save when you buy these items, and the Kaiservilla student price (€22, place database) and the card price (€21.50) are almost the same, and the two don't combine. The card is free, so there is no loss.
Why: Free for a 3-night stay; it saves on whichever item you use (€1–5/person/item); if you don't use it, nothing is lost.
Cost: Free (when staying 3 nights); otherwise €4.90/person
How to buy: Already received on 10-28: the host sent the filled-in cards directly (the photo shows the stay 10-27 to 10-30, the host and Bad Ischl). One per person, with your own name, not transferable; if someone doesn't have one, ask the host. When buying tickets, show it first, then pay.
Where it helps: Katrin mountain (cable car + summit loop), Hallstatt Salt Mine, Schafberg cog railway (ride up), Wolfgangsee boat (St. Wolfgang → St. Gilgen), Kaiservilla, EurothermenResort thermal baths (saline), Krippenstein cable car and 5fingers viewing platform
Links: Official site or purchase page ↗ · Link 2 ↗ · Link 3 ↗

Source: official sites salzkammergut.at and badischl.salzkammergut.at; prices from the official 2026 SommerCard brochure PDF. Whether Airbnb gives out a guest card: the official site doesn't say, not checked; tourist information opening hours not checked. The Bad Ischl Kurkarte appears on the official site only as the proof for getting the Salzkammergut Card, with no separate discount seen. · Checked 2026-10-28 (brochure prices reread)

Wiener Linien 7 Tage WIEN (weekly pass), 24-hour ticket and single ticket

RecommendedTransit pass4 people

When and where to buy: Before arriving at Wien Hbf at 11:20 on 10-27, buy it in the WienMobil app, with 10-27 as the start date; everyone brings a passport (also for 10-30, 10-31)

Official prices (from 2026-01-01): 24 Stunden WIEN digital €9.70, paper €10.20; 7 Tage WIEN digital €25.20, paper €28.90 (7 days from the chosen day, until 00:59 on day 8); 31 days digital €65.20. The 48-hour and 72-hour tickets and the Vienna City Card 48/72 hours were discontinued on 2026-01-01. Single ticket for adults €3.00 digital, €3.20 paper (reported by ORF and vienna.at; the official single-ticket page only shows "ab €1.50", which is the child price). Tickets are valid only in the Kernzone Wien, except the airport (Kernzonengrenze Schwechat), CAT, Westbahn and Flixbus. A digital ticket is tied to one person; bring a government photo ID (passport).

You save: Number of rides estimated from the day pages: companions about 4 on 10-27 (line D Hbf→Belvedere, Belvedere→Old Town, U1 from Stephansdom→Hbf, etc.), about 4–5 on 10-30 (U1 Hbf→Stephansdom, the church, dinner, back to the lodging), about 3 on 10-31, about 11 in total. Singles, digital: 11×€3.00=€33, versus €25.20 for the 7 Tage digital, saving about €8 each (€5–14 saved if it's 10–13 rides). The break-even is 25.20÷3.00=8.4 rides. Me: about 3 rides on 10-27, about 7 on 10-31 (per the current 10-31 day page: all 4 are in Vienna in the morning, in the afternoon I do Schönbrunn, Karlskirche and bouldering, and go to the airport at night), plus about 1–2 more for arriving at Hbf at 19:03 on the evening of 10-30 (decision D-39), about 11–12 in total, €33–36 for singles, saving about €8–11; also, on the night of 10-31 I take the REX7 to the airport, and with a 7 Tage I only pay a €2.30 supplement instead of €5.50, saving another €3.20 (see vienna-airport-rex7). For all 4 together about €32+€11=about €43. On 10-27 only about 3 rides (€9.00) cost less than a 24-hour ticket at €9.70, so don't buy a separate 24-hour ticket for 10-27.
Why: Over 10-27, 10-30 and 10-31 about 11 rides in total, so the 7 Tage digital at €25.20 is cheaper than singles; the break-even is 8.4 rides, and if you ride fewer than 9 times, go back to single tickets.
Cost: 7 Tage digital version €25.20 per person
How to buy: Buy it in the WienMobil App before arriving at Wien Hbf on 10-27, with 10-27 as the start date (valid until 11-03 00:59, which covers the night of 10-31); keep your passport with you.
Where it helps: Vienna Central Station (luggage storage, groceries), Upper Belvedere (Klimt's The Kiss), Kunsthistorisches Museum (incl. dome café), Stephansdom (St. Stephen's Cathedral), Karlskirche (incl. dome platform)
Links: Official site or purchase page ↗ · Link 2 ↗ · Link 3 ↗ · Link 4 ↗

Source: official site wienerlinien.at, the 24 Stunden WIEN page and the 7 Tage WIEN page (with the 2026 price table). The single-ticket prices €3.00/€3.20 come from ORF and vienna.at reports and were not confirmed on the official single-ticket page (the "ab €1.50" there is the child price, and the purchase page was blocked by Radware). The number of rides is my estimate from the day pages. · Checked 2026-10-22

ÖBB Sparschiene (limited-quantity saver fares)

DependsTicket tip4 people

When and where to buy: Today (10-24), compare it with the standard ticket in the ÖBB app; only buy it if it is much cheaper and you accept the risk of a 7-minute transfer (also for 10-30)

Official site: within Austria 2nd class ab €9.90, 1st class ab €19.90; tied to the train you buy, limited supply, on sale from 6 months ahead at the earliest, sold only online and in the ÖBB App, non-refundable, the site says "No discounts", i.e. the Vorteilscard can't be added. Sparschiene Komfort ab €4.90 (includes a seat reservation, refundable), and there is also the "Nachtschwärmer": for domestic trains departing between 19:00 and 03:00 from 2026-10-12 to 11-26 there are more special-price tickets.

You save: Exact price not found: the ÖBB ticket shop was blocked by Cloudflare, so I couldn't search the page for 10-27 16:57 Wien Hbf→Bad Ischl (IC 742 + REX 4420 + SV170, fixed, decision D-44) or for 10-30 (companions back to Vienna; me leaving Altaussee 14:53, arriving 19:03). A third party (Rome2Rio, Westbahnhof→Bad Ischl) estimates €19–65, not checked on the official site. "ab €9.90" is the starting price; with only 5 days left before departure, I don't know how many cheap tickets remain. I return to Vienna on the evening of 10-30 (decision D-39): leave Altaussee 14:53, arrive Wien Hbf 19:03, not a night train, so the Nachtschwärmer doesn't apply.
Why: How much cheaper depends on that day's stock; but it is tied to the train and non-refundable, and this leg has 2 transfers and the SV170 replacement bus (rail closed until 11-02), so if you miss the train it is void.
Cost: ab €9.90 (2nd class, official site); the actual prices for going on 10-27 and returning on 10-30 not found
How to buy: Before leaving, tick "Best price" in the ÖBB App to compare the standard ticket with Sparschiene; before buying, check whether the transfer time is enough.
Where it helps: Bad Ischl train station (bus terminal), Vienna Central Station (luggage storage, groceries)
Links: Official site or purchase page ↗ · Link 2 ↗

Source: official site oebb.at, the Sparschiene page (ab prices and conditions). The actual price for the route "not found"; Rome2Rio €19–65 is a third party, not checked on the official site. · Checked 2026-10-22

ÖBB Vorteilscard Jugend (under 26)

DependsDiscountCompanions

When and where to buy: Decide after seeing the actual Sparschiene price today; only buy it if Sparschiene is sold out or too expensive (also for 10-30)

Official site: €21/year, under 26, valid for 12 months; 50% off the ÖBB standard ticket (can't be combined with Sparschiene); 50% off the CAT airport train; bring a photo ID when traveling (to prove your age). The official site doesn't mention limits on nationality or residence, nor that tourists can't buy it; I didn't try placing an order. The digital card can be stored in your ÖBB account. Discounts on regional sections (such as VOR) may be lower than 50%.

You save: €21 per person for the card. On the current plan all 4 buy 2 legs (to Bad Ischl 10-27, back 10-30; I return from Altaussee to Vienna on the evening of 10-30, decision D-39, so there is no leg leaving the lake area on 10-31): S must be above €21 (2×0.5S>21) to pay off; only someone buying just 1 leg needs S above €42. The standard price for Wien–Bad Ischl was not found, so it can't be calculated exactly. Key comparison: (a) card + half-price standard tickets = 21+0.5S×number of legs; (b) the sum of the Sparschiene prices of each leg. If the Sparschiene tickets for both 10-27 and 10-30 are still available, (b) is probably cheaper; only use (a) if they are sold out.
Why: First check whether Sparschiene is available and what the standard price is; they can't be combined.
Cost: €21/year per person
How to buy: Buy with an account in the ÖBB App or Ticket-Shop; bring your passport.
Where it helps: Bad Ischl train station (bus terminal), Vienna Central Station (luggage storage, groceries)
Links: Official site or purchase page ↗

Source: official site oebb.at, the Vorteilscard page (price, 50%, age, ID). Whether tourists can buy it: the official site doesn't state a restriction, not tested. · Checked 2026-10-22

ÖBB Standardticket (not tied to a specific train)

DependsTransit pass4 people

When and where to buy: Today (10-24), in the ÖBB Tickets app, buy the 16:57 on 10-27 (with a seat reservation) and the return trip on 10-30; my ticket on 10-30 is not tied to a train (also for 10-30)

Not tied to a train and can be used on another one, which suits a trip like 10-27 with 2 transfers and possible delays; decision D-44 fixed the 16:57, so buy the standard ticket and reserve seats (seat fee €3, the Xiaohongshu (RedNote) tip says to tick it). Exact price not found.

You save: The standard ticket is the base price and saves no money. With the Vorteilscard Jugend it can drop by 50% (see oebb-vorteilscard-jugend).
Why: Price not found; the reason to buy it is flexibility, not cheapness. If Sparschiene is still available and the transfer is relaxed enough, use Sparschiene.
Cost: Not found
How to buy: ÖBB app or station ticket machines; tick the seat reservation option.
Where it helps: Bad Ischl train station (bus terminal), Vienna Central Station (luggage storage, groceries)
Links: Official site or purchase page ↗

Source: no actual price found on the official site (the ticket shop was blocked); the €3 seat fee comes from a Xiaohongshu lake transport guide (third-party retelling, not checked on the official site). · Checked 2026-10-22

10-28 Wed Lake District day 1 · Wolfgangsee: first to St. Gilgen, boat to St. Wolfgang, back for bouldering before the rain, hotpot in the evening (changed on the morning of 10-28)

Freizeit-Ticket OÖ (Upper Austria regional day ticket)

DependsTransit pass4 people

When and where to buy: On 10-28 buy 2 tickets (recommended): in the OÖVV Ticket app before boarding, valid from 09:00 (the 09:24 bus is just right); on 10-29 also buy 2 (the morning 541 runs after 09:00; buy from the driver when boarding) (also for 10-29)

OÖVV official site: €26.50, shared by up to 2 adults plus 4 children under 15; valid from 09:00 Monday to Friday, all day on weekends and public holidays, until 03:00 the next day; covers all Upper Austria public transport (buses, S/R/REX, Stern & Hafferl) plus the Salzkammergut section in Salzburg state (SVV lines listed include the 150 to Koppl, 156, 470 and so on); doesn't include IC, Railjet, Westbahn, boats or cable cars. The site says "Reduction: No": there is no student version, no under-26 version and no discount code. Can be bought up to 1 month in advance.

You save: 4 people need 2 tickets a day = €53. But the Xiaohongshu "€15" method no longer works (see mobilitaetsgutschein-ended). The break-even is when each person's single tickets for that day total >€13.25 (26.50÷2). Actual prices found on 10-24: on 10-28 each person's singles total €13.30 (Bad Ischl station→St. Wolfgang Markt €6.20, St. Gilgen→Bad Ischl station €7.10), €53.20 for 4 people, versus 2 Freizeit tickets at €53.00, almost the same; choose Freizeit because it is one code and riding more costs nothing extra. 10-29 changed to a later morning departure with all 4 together (D-60): each person's singles total about €20.80, while 2 Freizeit tickets are €13.25 each, so buy Freizeit.
Why: Recommended for 10-28 (the price is almost the same as singles, one code, riding more costs nothing extra); not for 10-29 (the morning bus is before 09:00, going separately).
Cost: €26.50 per ticket/day (shared by 2 adults)
How to buy: Buy in the OÖVV Ticket App, the wegfinder App or an ÖBB ticket machine; it is not valid before 09:00 that day; 4 people need 2 tickets and show them separately.
Where it helps: Gosausee (front lake to back lake), Hallstatt town, St. Wolfgang town, St. Gilgen town and lakeshore, Bad Ischl train station (bus terminal), Hallstatt Lahn bus stop
Links: Official site or purchase page ↗ · Link 2 ↗

Source: official site ooevv.at, the Freizeit-Ticket OÖ page (I read the English page directly; the page is marked as AI machine-translated; I didn't read the German original); single prices from the official OÖVV query (10-24). The Xiaohongshu "€24.90" is the old price; the current price on the official site is €26.50. · Checked 2026-10-24

OÖVV youth fare (ages 15 to under 21)

DependsDiscount4 people

When and where to buy: In the OÖVV app, or when buying a single from the driver, choose "Youth"; only useful for people under 21; bring your passport (also for 10-29)

OÖVV official site: people aged 15 up to under 21 (the day before the birthday) get the "reduced fare" on singles and day tickets, and must show an official photo ID (a passport is enough); only tickets marked with that fare count. The Freizeit-Ticket OÖ says "Reduction: No", so it doesn't apply.

You save: Ages of the 4 people unknown: if anyone is <21, each single ticket is cheaper than the adult price (the official site doesn't say by how much); the others get nothing.
Why: Only useful for people under 21, and it depends on the actual fare (not found).
Cost: Not applicable
How to buy: When buying a single in the OÖVV Ticket App, choose the "Youth" ticket; bring your passport.
Where it helps: Gosausee (front lake to back lake), St. Wolfgang town
Links: Official site or purchase page ↗

Source: official site ooevv.at, discounts page. · Checked 2026-10-22

Wolfgangsee boat (5Schätze)

DependsCombo ticketCompanions

When and where to buy: On 10-28 at 11:05, buy a single at €11.80 at the pier window at St. Wolfgang Markt or on the boat; the all-lake ticket isn't worth it for just one leg

Official 2026 SommerCard brochure: the Wolfgangsee all-lake ticket (getting on and off once at each of the 7 piers) is €31 for adults, €29.40 with the Salzkammergut Card; St. Gilgen–St. Wolfgang single €11.80, St. Wolfgang–Strobl €9 (quoted from the 5schaetze autumn timetable, in the repo's lake-transport.csv, not checked on the official site). Runs daily from 10-27 to 11-01, some sailings depend on the weather, and then stops (5schaetze autumn timetable). The Freizeit-Ticket doesn't cover it.

You save: On 10-29 the companions' St. Wolfgang→St. Gilgen single €11.80×3; the €31 all-lake ticket isn't worth it for people going only one leg. With the card the all-lake ticket is €29.40, saving €1.60/person.
Why: If you only ride one leg, buy a single; only buy the full-lake ticket if you want the Card discount.
Cost: St. Gilgen–St. Wolfgang single about €11.80 (not checked on the official site)
How to buy: Buy at the pier ticket office, on board, or online at 5schaetze.at.
Where it helps: Wolfgangsee boat (St. Wolfgang → St. Gilgen), St. Wolfgang town, St. Gilgen town and lakeshore
Links: Official site or purchase page ↗ · Link 2 ↗

Source: the all-lake ticket price is from the official SommerCard brochure (official); the single price is quoted from the repo's lake-transport.csv, not checked on the official site. · Checked 2026-10-22

Lake District bus single fares (541/542/543, 546, 150)

DependsTransit pass4 people

When and where to buy: Buy Freizeit on 10-28; on 10-29 buy a single in the OÖVV or ÖBB app before boarding; on 10-30 check the price in the ÖBB app first. Drivers only take cash, so bring coins and small notes (also for 10-29, 10-30)

Routes: Bad Ischl–Gosau–Hintertal is 541+542 (the official site hallstatt.net says the 541 goes direct to Gosausee, the OÖVV timetable PDF says the 542 goes to Hintertal/Zwieselalm from 10-27; the line numbers differ by source); to Hallstatt, change from the 541 to the 543 at Gosaumühle; to St. Wolfgang it is the 546, or the 150 to Strobl and change to the 546; to St. Gilgen it is the 150. Single prices (OÖVV official query verkehrsauskunft.ooevv.at, 10-24): Bad Ischl station→St. Wolfgang Markt €6.20; →St. Gilgen €7.10; our stop in Bad Ischl→Hintertal Zwieselalmbahn €10.40; our stop in Bad Ischl→Hallstatt Nord €7.60; Gosau Gemeindeamt→Hallstatt Nord or Lahn €6.20; Bad Ischl station→our stop in Bad Ischl €3.00; our stop in Bad Ischl→Bad Goisern €3.50. OÖVV price table: zone 1 €3.00, zone 2 €3.50, zone 3 €4.40, zone 4 €6.20, zone 5 €7.60, zone 6 €9.00, zone 7 €10.40, zone 8 €12.00.

You save: On 10-28 each person's singles total €13.30 (€53.20 for 4 people), almost the same as 2 Freizeit tickets at €53.00; Freizeit is recommended (one code, riding more costs nothing extra). After 10-29 changed to a later morning departure, buy Freizeit as well (D-60). For the break-even see freizeit-ticket-ooe.
Why: Prices found (10-24); buy Freizeit on 10-28, singles on 10-29; on 10-30 the trip to Altaussee crosses into Steiermark, so check the price in the ÖBB app first.
Cost: Singles from €3.00 (zone 1) to €10.40 (zone 7); for this trip's route prices see the "Ticket notes" page
How to buy: Buy before boarding in the OÖVV Ticket App, the ÖBB Tickets app or the wegfinder App; drivers also sell tickets (the terms say cash only, so bring coins and small notes). Tickets bought online are named; bring your passport.
Where it helps: Gosausee (front lake to back lake), Hallstatt Lahn bus stop, St. Wolfgang town, St. Gilgen town and lakeshore
Links: Official site or purchase page ↗ · Link 2 ↗

Source: single prices from the official OÖVV query (10-24, section 2.4 of the lake_transport_rules reply); route notes from hallstatt.net (the official site of the Hallstatt tourist office) and the repo's lake transport table. · Checked 2026-10-24

10-29 Thu Lake District day 2 · All 4 walk the three Gosausee lakes together (took the delayed 541)

Hallstatt ferry (train station ↔ Hallstatt Markt)

DependsTransit passCompanions

When and where to buy: The 10-29 day page has no ferry; if you take it, buy with cash at the pier

Official site hallstattschifffahrt.at: single €4.00, return (open ticket) €8.00, cash only; the price list says "Prices valid from 1.1.2025"; open daily all year, last departure from Markt: the search snippet says 17:45 (timetable until 12-13), the repo's lake-transport.csv says 18:30, not checked (the timetable PDF was not read); neither the Freizeit-Ticket nor the Salzkammergut Card covers it.

You save: If the 4 of us took the train to Hallstatt and then the ferry: €4×4=€16, return €8×4=€32; compared with bus 543 (covered by the Freizeit-Ticket), it depends on which one they take.
Why: Fixed price, no discounts; if you take the bus to Hallstatt Lahn, you don't need the ferry.
Cost: €4.00 one way; €8.00 return (cash)
How to buy: Buy with cash at the pier, and remember to bring small change.
Where it helps: Hallstatt ferry (town ↔ train station), Hallstatt town
Links: Official site or purchase page ↗

Source: official site hallstattschifffahrt.at (I read the price list directly). · Checked 2026-10-22

10-31 Sat Vienna · Take it easy on the last day: bouldering at Blockfabrik in the afternoon, two free churches on the metro route (Stephansdom and Peterskirche), Halloween team competition at boulderbar Hannovergasse in the evening, 22:42 to the airport for the night

Vienna Airport: REX7 / S7 single ticket (Hbf → airport)

RecommendedTransit passMe

When and where to buy: On 10-31 before boarding at 23:53, buy in the ÖBB app or at a ticket machine; if you have a 7 Tage, buy only the €2.30 supplement

10-31 23:53 REX 22783 Wien Hbf → Flughafen Wien Bahnhof 00:15 (Transitous, checked 10-22, 22 min, 0 transfers); earlier there are the 22:42 RJX and the 22:53 REX. From 2026-09-07 to 2027-10-31, because of the Stammstrecke closure: the S7 only goes to Wien St. Marx, the CAT becomes "CAT by bus" to Wien Mitte, but the REX7 and Railjet still run direct to Hbf as usual (official wien.info and the airport's official site). The fare has two parts: airport→Wien city limit €2.30 plus within Wien €3.20, €5.50 in total (WienTourismus official site, the page gives no date, 3.20 matches the 2026 WL single price; not confirmed on the ÖBB or VOR sites); with a Wiener Linien multi-day pass you only pay the €2.30 supplement.

You save: Me alone: without a 7 Tage pay €5.50; with a 7 Tage pay the €2.30 supplement, saving €3.20.
Why: Cheapest, and a direct train runs at 23:53; the last CAT is too early.
Cost: €5.50 (no multi-day pass); €2.30 (with a 7 Tage)
How to buy: Buy the airport-section ticket in the ÖBB App, at an ÖBB ticket machine in the station, or at the ticket window; with a 7 Tage, only buy the 2.30 supplement.
Where it helps: Vienna Airport (early flight on 11-01, overnight here the night before), Vienna Central Station (luggage storage, groceries)
Links: Official site or purchase page ↗ · Link 2 ↗ · Link 3 ↗

Source: wien.info (WienTourismus official site); times from tools/transit.py (Transitous, 10-22). The ÖBB and VOR official prices were not checked, so the price is marked "not checked on the ticketing site". Whether the same VOR ticket works on the Railjet (RJX 22:42, 15 min) was not found. · Checked 2026-10-22

Not worth it or no longer valid (10)

Not usable on this trip, or not worth the price. Kept here to show why we do not buy them.

100E airport express (airport ↔ Deák Ferenc tér)

Not worth itTransit passMe

The 100E only accepts the 2,500 Ft (≈€6.41) airport single (can be bought on board with a bank card); 24- and 72-hour tickets are not valid. The official site only says that holders of passes such as monthly passes can buy a 1,000 Ft supplement ticket, and doesn't say whether 24- or 72-hour tickets can add a supplement. The 200E is a regular line, and regular tickets and 24-hour tickets are both valid.

You save: My route from the airport to MAG47 on 10-25 is 200E+95, both regular lines, and a 24-hour ticket or singles are enough, so the 100E is not needed and not involved this time. If someone takes the 100E to the city center: 2,500 Ft, which is 1,650 Ft≈€4.2 more than a 90-minute ticket (850 Ft, valid for the 200E and then a transfer to the metro), but direct.
Why: My route to MAG47 was already 200E+95; the others' arrival routes are unknown (Q-03), and the 100E is only worth it if they go to Deák.
Cost: 2,500 Ft (≈€6.41) one way
How to buy: Tap a bank card on board (Pay&GO) or buy in the BudapestGO App; board by the front door.
Where it helps: MAG47 climbing gym (bouldering)
Links: Official site or purchase page ↗ · Link 2 ↗

Source: official site bkk.hu, the airport express page and the price list page. · Checked 2026-10-22

BKK student and ISIC discounts (for tourists)

Not worth itDiscount4 people

The official site says: foreign student cards and ISIC can only buy the "student monthly pass" (3,450 Ft), and from 2026-06-15 student cards and ISICs from EU, European Economic Area and Swiss schools also need to be accompanied by "proof of Hungarian address" (lakcímkártya or szálláshely-igazolás); the ISIC must be a separate card, and the school named on it must be outside Hungary. Single, 24-hour and 72-hour tickets have no student price.

You save: 0 Ft (tourists buy 24-hour tickets and singles, which have no student price; the monthly pass needs proof of a Hungarian address, so it doesn't apply).
Why: The official site only gives a student monthly-pass discount to students 'with a Hungarian address'; tourists cannot use it.
Cost: Not applicable
How to buy: Nothing to do; do not spend time getting it.
Links: Official site or purchase page ↗ · Link 2 ↗

Source: official site bkk.hu, the discounts page and its PDF "Local transport discounts" (2026-06-14 version). · Checked 2026-10-22

Budapest Card (24/48/72/96 h)

Not worth itCity card4 people

Official prices: 24-hour 17,990 Ft, 48-hour 23,990 Ft (≈€61.5), 72-hour 29,990 Ft (72-hour Flexi 27,990, Plus 39,990), 96-hour 38,990 Ft. Includes public transport and about 40 free sights (National Gallery, Lukács baths, castle bus, Citadella and so on), with 10–25% discounts at restaurants and sights. Classic doesn't include airport transfers; only Plus and Flexi include the 100E.

You save: 4 people for 48 hours: 23,990×4=95,960 Ft≈€246. Without the card: 2 24-hour tickets, 5,500 Ft per person ×4=22,000 Ft (≈€56). The official price list page only names the National Gallery, Lukács baths, Citadella, the castle bus, the art museum (96-hour card) and the Capa Center as free; Fisherman's Bastion, Matthias Church, the Synagogue and Parliament do not appear. Even if all the paid items this time (Fisherman's Bastion 850 Ft student half price, Matthias Church 2,700 Ft, the Synagogue 12,000 Ft) were free, that is only about 15,550 Ft, plus transport 5,500 Ft=21,050 Ft, still below the card's 23,990 Ft. Conclusion: a loss.
Why: Most places we are visiting are not on its free list; a 24 h ticket is cheaper for transport.
Cost: 48 h 23,990 Ft (≈€61.5) per person
How to buy: Buy on the official site or at a BKK ticket point; not using it.
Links: Official site or purchase page ↗ · Link 2 ↗

Source: official site bkk.hu, the Budapest Card page (it calls itself the "official city pass"). Whether a sight is among the 40 free ones: I only saw the few listed on the official site; the full list is in its PDF, which I did not read. · Checked 2026-10-22

City Airport Train (CAT by bus) airport express

Not worth itTransit passMe

Official prices: single €14.90, return €24.90; with a "Student Identity Card" (the site says "valid international student ID, e.g. Student ID or International Student Card", and ISIC counts) single €7.00, return €12.00; ÖBB Vorteilscard is also €7.00. It is now a premium bus, airport ↔ Wien Mitte 21 min, last departure from Wien Mitte 23:15, last from the airport 23:37. Show your student ID when boarding.

You save: For 4 people with ISIC, a single is €14.90−7.00=€7.90 saved per person; but on 10-31 we leave Hbf only at 23:53, after the last CAT. If I left earlier, €7.00 would still be more than the REX7's €5.50 (or €2.30).
Why: More expensive than the REX7, the last bus at 23:15 can't make the 23:53 plan, and you have to get to Wien Mitte first.
Cost: €7.00 (student)
How to buy: Buy on the CAT site or at the station; bring a student ID.
Where it helps: Vienna Airport (early flight on 11-01, overnight here the night before)
Links: Official site or purchase page ↗ · Link 2 ↗

Source: official site cityairporttrain.com, the fares page and the international student discount page. · Checked 2026-10-22

Vienna City Card

Not worth itCity card4 people

WienTourismus official prices: 24-hour €19, 7-day €39 (the page also lists 48- and 72-hour at €31/€37, but the Wiener Linien site says the 48- and 72-hour City Cards were discontinued on 2026-01-01; go by Wiener Linien); includes Wiener Linien transport and discounts at museums and restaurants; +Airport Transfer 24-hour €41; +Hop-On Hop-Off 24-hour €53. The discount list on the official site needs paging through; I only confirmed Albertina −10%, and didn't read the discount size for Belvedere and the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

You save: The 24-hour card at €19 costs €9.30 more than the 24-hour transport ticket at €9.70 and has to be offset by discounts; the 7-day card at €39 costs €13.80 more than the 7 Tage at €25.20. This time only Belvedere (€19 student price) and the Kunsthistorisches Museum (€19 student price) might give a discount; at 10% that saves about €1.9–2.0 each, about €4 in all, which can't offset €9.30. Conclusion: a loss.
Why: The student price is already lower than the adult price; the extra cost of the City Card will not be earned back.
Cost: 24 h €19; 7 days €39 per person
How to buy: No need to buy.
Where it helps: Upper Belvedere (Klimt's The Kiss), Kunsthistorisches Museum (incl. dome café), Albertina Museum
Links: Official site or purchase page ↗ · Link 2 ↗ · Link 3 ↗

Source: WienTourismus official site (prices) and Wiener Linien official site (discontinuation notice). The City Card discount size at Belvedere and the Kunsthistorisches Museum: not read on the official site, not checked. · Checked 2026-10-22

Vienna PASS (multi-sight pass) and Hop-On Hop-Off

Not worth itCity card4 people

The official site viennapass.com won't open (returns 404 / 301 to the German site and then 404), so only third-party resale prices could be seen: 1 day about US$60–115, 3 days about US$99–190, and it says it includes the Kunsthistorisches Museum; Belvedere doesn't appear in any result.

You save: The only paid sights we will enter in Vienna this time are Belvedere, the Kunsthistorisches Museum (student price €19 each) and Stephansdom (€8); the pass's 1-day price is already higher than the sum of these, and it doesn't include transport.
Why: Few sights, low student prices, so a pass loses money.
Cost: Third party: 1 day about US$60–115 (not checked on the official site)
How to buy: No need to buy.
Where it helps: Kunsthistorisches Museum (incl. dome café), Upper Belvedere (Klimt's The Kiss), Stephansdom (St. Stephen's Cathedral)
Links: Official site or purchase page ↗

Source: third party (resale site search snippets, not checked on the official site). · Checked 2026-10-22

Wiener Linien student discount (for tourists)

Not worth itDiscount4 people

The official "Studierende" page only has the Jahreskarte WIEN Jugend (under 26, an annual pass at €294, replacing the semester ticket from 2026-02-01); ISIC gives no short-term student price for tourists. The reduced single-ticket price is only for children aged 6–15, military service members and Sozialpass holders.

You save: 0 (no student price on short-term tickets; the €294 annual pass makes no sense for a 4-day trip).
Why: The official site has no student price for tourists.
Cost: Not applicable
How to buy: Nothing to do.
Links: Official site or purchase page ↗ · Link 2 ↗

Source: official site wienerlinien.at, the student page and the single-ticket page. · Checked 2026-10-22

Salzkammergut guest transport discount code (Mobilitätsgutschein, €11.50)

Not worth itDiscount4 people

The Xiaohongshu "€15 lake-area day ticket" trick: email the official Salzkammergut office, apply for a discount code with your accommodation booking, and the €26.5 becomes €15. The official site salzkammergut.at says: the program ended on 2026-09-30, the 2026 quota is used up, and no codes are issued from 2026-10-01. In the research notes (a blogger's post on lake transport, stays and food) someone also writes that "the 2026 codes have all been given out".

You save: Originally each code saved €11.50, and 2 stacked codes turned the €26.5 for 2 adults into €15. It can't be obtained now, so it is 0 this time.
Why: The official site states that codes are no longer issued from 10-01; no need to spend time writing e-mails.
Cost: Discontinued
How to buy: Nothing to do; you can ask the Airbnb host whether there are other guest tickets, but the official site doesn't say.
Where it helps: Bad Ischl lodging (Airbnb)
Links: Official site or purchase page ↗ · Link 2 ↗

Source: the official site salzkammergut.at, mobility discounts page (I read it directly). Xiaohongshu leads: two bloggers' posts, one on the €15 lake day-ticket discount, one on lake transport, stays and food. · Checked 2026-10-22

WESTbahn (Westbahnhof → Attnang or Salzburg)

Poor valueTicket tip4 people

It does not leave from Wien Hbf; you have to go to Westbahnhof (Hbf→Westbahnhof is one metro ride). Example for 10-27: Westbahnhof 15:08 WB 79220 → Attnang 16:53, change to REX 4416 → Gmunden, change to SV170 → Bad Ischl 18:00 (1 hour earlier than the 19:00 arrival of the 15:57 IC 740, the train before the current one; the current plan is the 16:57 IC 742, arriving 20:00, decision D-44; this was checked against the 15:57 and not separately against the 16:57) (Transitous 10-22). Official site: the 10% student discount is only for students of Austrian and German schools (foreign students with ISIC do not qualify); Vorteilspreis needs a rail discount card (ÖBB Vorteilscard, DB Bahncard, etc.). Prices: Wien–Salzburg WESTsuperpreis from €13.99 (reported by railwaypro, not checked on the official site); Westbahnhof→Attnang standard price €55.90, Superpreis from €8.99 (from the repo's lake transport table, a search snippet, not checked). Westbahn only goes to Attnang; Attnang→Bad Ischl has to be bought separately (Rome2Rio estimates €21, not checked).

You save: Not worked out exactly: if the Superpreis is €8.99–€20, adding about €21 for Attnang→Bad Ischl may come out about the same as Sparschiene; but on 10-27 we want to see the paintings at the KHM, 15:08 from Westbahnhof is too tight, and with separately bought tickets there is no protection if a train is late.
Why: Decided: take the 16:57 ÖBB on 10-27 (decision D-44); this 15:08 Westbahn is too tight. Xiaohongshu says "half the price of ÖBB", but the price was not checked on the official site; separate tickets risk a missed connection.
Cost: WESTsuperpreis Wien–Salzburg from €13.99 (third party)
How to buy: Buy at westbahn.at or in the app; Superpreis can only be bought online.
Where it helps: Bad Ischl train station (bus terminal)
Links: Official site or purchase page ↗ · Link 2 ↗ · Link 3 ↗

Source: the official site westbahn.at (discount rules); the price is from a third party and was not checked on the official site; Xiaohongshu lead: a lake transport guide ("Buy Wien–Attnang on Westbahn, the price is only half of ÖBB"). · Checked 2026-10-22

ÖBB Einfach-Raus-Ticket (regional-train day ticket for 2–5 people)

Not worth itCombo ticket4 people

Official site: 2 people €38, 3 people €42, 4 people €46, 5 people €50 (the price is for the whole party, regardless of age); valid on ÖBB regional trains (S, R, REX) all over Austria and on Raaberbahn, but not on IC, Railjet or Westbahn; Mon to Fri valid from 09:00 until 03:00 the next day, on weekends and public holidays all day; not valid for travel into or out of Vorarlberg. The official site does not mention buses (including the SV170 replacement bus); not checked.

You save: 10-27 (Tue, usable after 09:00) Wien Hbf → Bad Ischl using only S/R/REX (+SV170): Transitous (10-22) finds nothing. For the St. Pölten–Amstetten–Linz section there are only Westbahn, RJX and ICE that day and no ÖBB regional trains (Transitous data, not checked on scotty), so it does not work. If it did, 4 people at €46 = €11.5 each, cheaper than Sparschiene. The 3-person return on 10-30 does not work for the same reason.
Why: There is no continuous route using only regional trains on this line; Linz–St. Pölten has no ÖBB regional trains.
Cost: 4 people €46
How to buy: Not applicable; if used on other days, buy in the ÖBB app or at a ticket machine.
Where it helps: Bad Ischl train station (bus terminal)
Links: Official site or purchase page ↗

Source: the official site oebb.at, Einfach-Raus page (price and conditions); feasibility comes from an api.transitous.org query on 10-22 (I queried in segments, Transitous data only). · Checked 2026-10-22